(19)

(11)

EP 1 011 445 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 28.06.2000 Bulletin 2000/26 (21) Application number: 97926608.7 (22) Date of filing: 15.05.1997

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61B 5/14, A61B 17/32 (86) International application number: PCT/US9708/488 (87) International publication number: WO 9743/964 (27.11.1997 Gazette 1997/51)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 23.05.1996 US 653712 28.01.1997 US 789568 (71) Applicant: Array Medical, Inc. Bridgewater, NJ 08807 (US)	(72) Inventors: PAMBIANCHI, Michael, S. New Milford, CT 06776 (US) GRUBE, Dominick, F. Ogdensburg, NJ 07439 (US) (74) Representative: Watts, Peter Graham  Anthony Cundy & Co.,1 Olton Bridge,245 Warwick Road Solihull,West Midlands B92 7AH Solihull,West Midlands B92 7AH (GB) (56) References cited: :